Take a look at this new public service announcement (PSA) at http://www.myfaithmyvoice.com and pass it on. After you watch the PSA select “View PSAs” to watch personal PSAs from everyday American Muslims who are adding their voices to reach out and talk to America.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 2:26 pm
Thank you Carole/noted and signed/this is a sad state of affairs, I have been asked several times if I was Muslim because I stand for their rights./we have to stand up and be counted.

Within the next ten days, Jewish people will welcome a New Year, even as the holy Muslim month of Ramadan draws to a close. These are times of special significance for us, and yet these joyous occasions are marred by what is happening in the world around us.

The so-called peace talks are beginning today under the shadow of ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine. In the United States, we are approaching the anniversary of 9/11, and the rising tide of manufactured bigotry against Muslims is reaching a new high.

As the peace talks begin, we condemn the murder of the four Israeli settlers last Tuesday in the occupied West Bank. Violence against civilians, any civilians, is never the answer.

We also note that while the U.S. government condemned Tuesday's brutal attack, it never condemned even the assault on Gaza almost two years ago, when over 1400 people, mostly civilian, including over 400 children, were killed. This disproportionate response is an indicator of the apparent inability of the U.S. to be an "honest broker" in these talks. (You can find two sobering analyses of the upcoming talks in these two pieces: Hoping Against Hope and Top Ten Reasons for Skepticism.)

As difficult as the situation is in Palestine and Israel, we cannot ignore what is happening in the United States. As Jews, we feel an obligation and a responsibility to speak up for the rights of all of our citizens and residents -- rights that we should enjoy regardless of religion or ethnicity. We are gravely concerned by the new wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice -- including violence and threats of public burnings of the Qur'an -- that the planned building of an Islamic Cultural Center near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan has brought to light.

We are particularly disappointed by the role being played by some leading Jewish-American institutions, founded to promote human rights and democracy, that are standing now on the side of bias and prejudice. When the Anti-Defamation League, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the American Jewish Committee oppose the unconditional rights of Muslim-Americans to build their mosque, they oppose the religious freedoms of all Americans and the Jewish values we all share.

Sadly, the decision of organizations like these not to vigorously fight for the rights of Muslim Americans appears to be rooted in their impression that bias and prejudice against Muslims is advantageous to Israel. On the one hand, we hear false and misleading claims of anti-Semitism to silence critics, on the other, are the appeals to Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism to foster alienation from the Palestinians and their struggle for human rights and dignity. This is not good for Americans, not good for Israelis, and not good for Palestinians.

Just as the hurtful and dangerous rhetoric is increasing in New York, so it is increasing in Israel. Just last week, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a former Chief Rabbi of Israel and spiritual head of the Shas Party, a member of the governing coalition, repeated his 2001 admonition for the annihilation of Arabs, adding, "It is forbidden to be merciful to them."

Turning back to the U.S., as we are honoring our holidays, American Muslim leaders have expressed fear that when Muslims gather to celebrate the end of Ramadan, their gatherings might be wrongly interpreted as a celebration of the 9/11 attacks. We remember darker times when we Jews celebrated Passover in fear because of the heightened potential for blood libel accusations and pogroms. We remember when our sacred books were burned in public square. We wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a joyous and safe holiday.

We are now in the time of Teshuvah (repentance). We call on all Jewish leaders and on all our Jewish brothers and sisters to pause and reflect. As we start a new year, we ask all of you to join us in reaffirming a shared commitment to confronting Islamaphobia and anti-Arab racism with the same determination we have when facing anti-Semitism.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 3:24 pm
I'm not a citizen of the United States of America but I feel privileged to be asked to sign the petition. No matter what race, religion, colour or creed we have the same origin.
We stand together. We are one.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 3:35 pm
Salam Alaikom..Ramadan Kareem! Can I say I so love you Carole for trying...for speaking out. You know, the Holy Qur'an says that Allah is like a Guard on a Watchtower...He misses nothing. Everything in this life is a test for us of our conduct. Patience and perseverance are the most important virtues in Islam. But just as with many other religions, there are Muslims who break down and become impatient. As human beings, can we really blame them! It is for Allah to decide in the end who is best in their conduct. We cannot judge. Palestine has suffered for 60 years such terrible persecution. Other places also..Iraq...over a million dead! Who cries for them!! I cry for little Abeer al-Janabi...still I do. Bosnia..terrible terrible things they have suffered... I would invite you to my page to watch the video by Rabbi Weiss. I love that man! He is so fair and wise and speaks truth. Truth is not popular in our world. Your poem is beautiful...hugs hugs hugs. I really believe many very good peoples are starting to wake up and see the truth. Many ask the good question...indeed! What would Jesus do!!!....Islam is about peace. The real Islam is lost in all the lies. Please you can see my picture album about my faith if you wish. I tried to tell about Islam from my point of view because I love my faith...and I hate all that has been happening for so long. Love you girl!!!! and all who are with you. Allah Loves those who do good...Shalom and Salam. arij "ani"

Thursday September 2, 2010, 3:48 pm
Still feel that 9/11 was an inside job and the muslims are tagged for it a the scapegoats. This is so wrong. There are so many beautiful Muslims and Jewish and Christians, there is good and bad in all religions, but this crime needs to be exposed for what it is and for who is really responsible! I am amazed when I tell people that it was impossible for 9/11 to have happened the way it did, They don't want to hear it. I believe because they don't want to think that they are deceived and embarrassed for a country whose powers that be would allow this to happen. It was scientifically impossible, the explosives were put in that tower and that has also been proven. Glad to see some are waking up to the real truth. Also, it is not all Americans, it is the lie that they have been fed, the values are good, but when a government tells untruths, it is hard to discern....
May God Bless All of Us and the May the Truth of this debacle Prevail!

Religion is such an extremely personal thing that it is defined, and lived, according to the translation of the adherent.

The life we choose to live is as sacred as life itself. We are born alone, and we will die the same way. If there is anything in this world that should be respected, it is the right to believe as we wish in the interim (so long as we do not defile another being's rights to do the same).

Thursday September 2, 2010, 4:04 pm
Send a Green Star to Just Carole
Sending a Green Star is a simple way to say "Thank you"
You cannot currently send a star to Just because you have done so within the last week

Thursday September 2, 2010, 4:20 pm
Thank you Carole, noted and signed. Arabs, like others have the right to this. I believe that someone else was behind Sept11, and all anger, pain and hatred was channeled against them. Not fair. It should go the opposite way.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 4:21 pm
Like John, above, I am not an American but thank you Carole for sharing this with me. The wording of the petition makes it clear it is for Americans so I cannot sign it, but I stand with anyone who is against racism, religious bigotry or other forms of hatred. I encourage you all in your opposition to the wave of hatred that is being aroused in the hearts of those who are ignorant and unaware of the central place of love in our world and in your country. May your collective voice be louder than that of the spreaders of hate and may its strength and light clear the dim pollution of mindless opposition from your nation. Thank you Arij, for your good words. Love and Peace to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 4:34 pm
Thank you Just C ! I am with you 100% racism or any ism does terrible things to ones self image and self esteem. Love our nieghbors ALL our nieghbors That is true christianity and or just good people if you do not believe in religion. Only God can judge. (for the christians)

Thursday September 2, 2010, 5:06 pm
How little there is to add what y'all have said. "United we stand, divided we fall" I prefer to stand united. I gladly reach out my hand in friendship, is not the character of the individual rather then the source of a belief system or color of skin? How far we have come, let's not allow some creative TV sources to drag us backwards.

Just a thought, but before people get so excited about a building blocks away from Ground Zero, should we not first focus on a memorial to those fallen on 9/11? The only memorial is the one given us by the Russian people. Though it is stunningly beautiful, it just seems to me that Americans should offer at least a memorial garden, a place of peace and contemplation.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 5:35 pm
Thank you for publicly taking a stand with American Muslims. We'll add your name to the list of the more than 3,000 people as of 9/2 who have already signed the petition.

If they can not build where they choose then some other group can say that they don't want someone else's faith's place of worship or a civic center there. People need to realize that if they want their rights, then they must allow others to exercise the same.

New York (CNN) -- A coalition of at least 40 religious and civic organizations Wednesday announced the creation of an alliance to show support for the Islamic community center and mosque proposed to be built near New York's ground zero.

The group has launched a website -- nyneighbors.org -- and announced a candlelight vigil to be held at the site of the proposed center on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attack.

Members of the coalition gathered at a municipal building in Manhattan to announce the group's creation.

Talat Hamdani, whose son was killed in the attack, told CNN on Wednesday, "The issue is not about location. It is about our rights as Americans."

"All those people who died that day ... they were murdered for being Americans. We should honor those people who were murdered that day by living up to America's core values," Hamdani said.

Even as some relatives of 9/11 victims showed support for the Islamic center's construction, others held their ground in opposing it though there own connection to the event was more tenuous and their opinions much like a man talking about abortion.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 6:14 pm
It is where u are born what u believe, so judging about that would mean, u dont accept urself.
Thank u for the comments inhere, it made me believe in us humans and thank u for posting this, i am jewish, but ashamed for what happens in Gaza, also after that hoorible war in 40-45, how is this all possible, no one is always right, the big truth does not excist, but at least one should be able to believe whatever he/she wants.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 6:54 pm
What distribs me most is that most of this negitive, hateful stuff comes for the christian right. (and republicans). It's just their way to spread HATE AND DISCORD among the Ameican people. I want to share this with you that a "real" minster (of Jesus) sent to me.

christian (kr s'tyan), n. Person who has empowered him/herself to mind your business for you. -Anonymous-

Christian (Kris'tyan). n. Person who has empowered us to let HIM mind our business for us. -Dakotahgeo, 2010-

so, ask these HATEFUL people, what would Jesus do? Think about that !!!!

Thursday September 2, 2010, 6:55 pm
Thank you Carole and to so many others sharing on this thread of Love and Peace for our Fellow Man! I also am against any "ism" of any kind whatsoever. I suppose growing up as an "Air Force" brat I saw no color. I saw no difference of Religion brought up with none. Maybe that was part of my beliefs because of what I lived as a child, maybe it was the thread that is my Heart and Soul. It matters not."DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU" has been my Creed. It should be the Universal Creed. It is totally out of control what the Muslum face living in this Country today. I only have known Muslems prior to 9/11 that were no different than you or I. Of course they had different backgrounds than us, but if anything I found them to be as Spiritual or more so than anyone I knew. Thank You for the Lovely Poem Carole. Kit I was completely unaware that the Americans had contributed nothing to the fallen as a result of 9/11. This SHOCKS me. Everything Shocks me these days.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 7:35 pm
VoteVets.org
Sign our Open Letter on the Muslim Community Center

Since the debate erupted, we’ve kept out of the argument over the planned Community Center for Muslims in Lower Manhattan (falsely called the “Ground Zero Mosque”). Initially, we believed this was a local issue for New Yorkers to discuss. But, we can no longer stay silent. We need your help. Please take a moment to sign the open letter below to the developer of the site, supporting the right of Muslims to build a community center on property they lawfully bought. This is too important an issue for us to stay silent on any longer.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 7:54 pm
Signed Robert and along with petition here have posted to Faceobook. I also strongly support the efforts of the 9/11 families asking for a day of rest from the growing protests - they only ask for one day of rest.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 8:27 pm
I stand with the ACLU and people all across America in defense of religious liberty. I also affirm my support for leaders like Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City who boldly oppose religious discrimination rooted in cultural stereotyping and resist those who seek to trade away our most precious values for political advantage.

Thursday September 2, 2010, 9:30 pm
Carole, we proudly stand with you. I love your poem. Petition to FCNL signed, letter to senators and representative written and sent, letter to editor sent, article noted. Robert, thanks for the link to the petition at VoteVets.com, signed the petition there also. Both petitions shared.

Voices of caring and reason can make a difference and hopefully drown out the hate speak out there. To all who have signed and/or noted.... I truly love you all!

Thursday September 2, 2010, 9:58 pm
Thanks Carole for the article and for your awesome adds and poem. Ya know, it may have been Muslims that carried out the 9/11 attack, but I do not believe that is reason to judge the entire religion for that. There's the Baptist church in Florida that is planning to burn the Koran on 9/11/10 and as a Christian, It disturbs me and I do not believe this is a Christian action. I believe we should show respect and tolerance for all religions, despite what a few of the so-claimed Christians or Muslims do, and I would apply this to all religions. It is disturbing that people claim to carry out terrorist attacks or Koran burnings in God's name. The religion may not have sunk into some people so they follow their own path, rather that God's. Thanks so much C, I wanted to send you more stars, but of course, Care2 would only let me send the first one!

This means a lot to us here who have been supporting this for so long now. Also please know that there is a proposed memorial at the site and if you come to visit NYC you can see the plans that are housed in a small display by the side of 1 World Trade Center as it's being built. The proposal for the community center also has it's own memorial in it's plan. For those that are curious, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_World_Trade_Center
Thank you Carole. It is wonderful to know that there are so many out in the larger world who believe in standing in peace with us.Thank you Carole.

Friday September 3, 2010, 2:22 am
I'm a Muslim, but I'd hate myself if I only stood with my fellow Muslims; I'd stand up with anyone who needs my help. Yes, I am relegious, which is exactly why I KNOW - and dont just think- God doesnt want us putting boundaries between one another.

Friday September 3, 2010, 4:04 am
From time immemorial it has been a common ploy of unscrupulous politicians to use xenophobia, racism and fear of attack as a means to keep their gullible populace subservient to their wiles, accepting without demur restrictions upon their freedom, close surveillance. This practice is being abundantly and very successfully employed in today's U.S.A. as well as in other lands.

Friday September 3, 2010, 8:25 am
Please listen to this and Think! Though from the Bush era it applies just as much today, in some ways even more. (It does apply to this thread if you listen and watch)

Friday September 3, 2010, 10:55 am
Ty Carole and Kit for "We Can't Make It Here Any More". It truly brough chills to me as I don't recall hearing this song or him before. Robert, I signed your "Vets for the Muslim" Petition. It wouldn't even occur to me that you would not have such a Huge following on this thread!!! ThankX for this!!!

Friday September 3, 2010, 11:00 am
I'll stand for them, when they start standing against the radical extremist. When they stand united in denouncing Sharia Law and when they announce that they will stand against radical Islam to protect other faiths, I will stand for them.

Friday September 3, 2010, 5:06 pm
Nope,people this is NOT against secular Muslims but those who are taking the Koran literally,want to impose Sharia on the land. We are used to Christian sects but they have no "book" mandate to try to control the nation. Islam does have that in the Koran.
Make no mistake that many who appear secular will return to the "fold". This cannot be taken lightly!

Friday September 3, 2010, 7:43 pm
Scott, I've lived with these people for 35 years now in this neighborhood. They are all individuals. Whatever you think of the Koran is your right. My right is to have a community Center and their right is to practice their religion in peace as long as they don't break the laws of this country. That is, America where many of them were born and where many of them died helping others that day.
Why now?What brought you here after all this time?What attracts you to Sharia law?The only thing that worries me is if you pass your own version of Christian Identity anti sex anti woman law. And in the last few years you have come very close to doing that. The courts are busy with the stem cell laws right now trying to overturn what Bush did that month while he should have been reading a paper detailing how a plane would be used against us.
.

Saturday September 4, 2010, 1:18 am
Poppy S wrote: "I have been asked several times if I was Muslim because I stand for their rights"

Interesting - I've been asked about that, asked if I'm gay for similar reasons - no one's asked if I was a woman for for being for women's rights, but there are other things: black people, Hispanics, etc. Strange that so many people think so narrowly they almost can't imagine someone standing up for the rights of someone who's different. I've always been for HUMAN rights. All of these qualifications ignore the Constitutio as far as I can see. Do we have to fight for the rights every single human variation there is?? That would be sad.

Saturday September 4, 2010, 5:56 am
We MUST support our Muslim brothers and sisters in America…
This is a fight against ignorance, bigotry and hatred…
The right-wingers and supposed Christians who are attacking religious freedom…
Think they are better-than-thou but they are really worse-than-thou…
Religious and political freedom are essential for a free America...

Saturday September 4, 2010, 9:33 am
I'm British and live in Spain. I signed. I will stand up with anyone of any race, colour, creed, religion if he or she opposes bigotry, violence, racism. We are one family.
I agree with Bob E's comments but believe that religious and political freedom should be universal as should freedom or expression.

Saturday September 4, 2010, 2:37 pm
And now for the weekend, a gift of fun, and a message offered because you are some of the brightest and best people I know and you will know the importance of saving the medium on which we communicate.

Saturday September 4, 2010, 3:06 pm
We all need to defend the rights of ALL people to worship as they choose. Fight only for yourself and you will lose; if too many do that then ALL will lose, one at a time. Something else we need to be aware of though, is that a free and open society, like America once was, invites EVERYTHING. America has become a place where religion too often gets perverted, and the government and its more shady employees are good at it. There are 26,000 pastors and priests (according to one article) who have taken the course (and government money) to help pacify the American public using scripture and psyops training in the event of martial law being declared. There's one example. Another is that the House of Saud sponsors mosques all over the U.S., so that the primary imams in those places are Wahabbists - of whom if I understand right the Taliban are a militant arm. Whabbist imams comprise the majority of Muslim teachers in the U.S., and instituting sharia in America is a prime goal, as instituting the harshest of Old Testament laws is a prime goal of Dominionists and Christian Reconstructionists, who have infiltrated the evangelical faiths here in America. This is why I've been questioning where that huge sum of money to build this sometimes-mosque, sometimes-civic center for the Muslim community is coming from. Wahabbism is a violent and oppressive cult of Islam that we don't need more of - or any of as far as I'm concerned.

The followers of Islam that I've met have been hard-working, intelligent, balanced people who tend toward calm who think things out before acting. I've admired them, even though, while I can agree with a lot of the wisdom in the Holy Verses, I will never be able to convert to Islam andy more than I will Christianity.

Saturday September 4, 2010, 9:25 pm
Thank you for publicly taking a stand with American Muslims. We'll add your name to the list of the more than 3,000 people as of 9/2 who have already signed the petition.
Wonderful post with many great comments!
THX Carole!! :)

Wednesday September 8, 2010, 10:30 pm
Noted and gladly signed. People who are opposing Muslims are taking a dangerous stand. The burning of the Qoran is absurd, against what Americans believe in and downright dangerous. Thanks Carole for posting this.

Friday September 10, 2010, 6:03 am
We Stand with American Muslims
Thank you for publicly taking a stand with American Muslims. We'll add your name to the list of the more than 6,000 people as of 9/9 who have already signed the petition.

Saturday September 11, 2010, 1:09 am
It's interesting how the info on this evolved. First they were going to build a Mosque, period. Next it was a community center, but the was quite a bit of time before that came out. And finally it's a community center for the whole area that CONTAINS a mosque. Quite a difference. I feel I need to offer an axplanation here, BTW. Been meaning to get back here and life just keeps getting in the way.

That $100,000,000 is what pricked my ears forward. I read an article some time ago about a young, homeless America kid who converted to Islam at a mosque in New York. It turned out that the Imam was a Wahabbist who was preaching (when he thought just the Islamic congregation was there) the overthrow of America by Jihad, and sabotage before that. The kid had lost a lot of weight, seemed happy bu - dull somehow. And lot of homeless young people were getting into this. This was a misuse of the freedoms ehre, and of these young converts, so I set ut to look for more info. Turned out that Saudi Arabia was financing a large percentage of mosques and then requiring them to accept Wahabbist imams to run them. The Wahabbists are extremists. So when I read the HUGE donation, I thuoght, "Seaudi Arabia again". It worried me. I'm still concerned, but this is no closed mosque that's hard to to watch - it's actually an oppen community center, and I don't see how such an operation could be carried out in what they're planning.

An open community center with a mosquue would,. I think, be a wonderful thing for the area, especially the way the community has come together over it! I'm still concerned about that gigantic amount of money - a hundred million dollars strikes me as - I can't think of a word. Very big, and could only have come from the House Saud, who are, BTW, constantly locking horn with the Wahabbists. The House of Saud is not nearly so extremist; they can't be, they've been exposed to a much wider world, and at one point after the religious police sent young girls back into a burning schools to die because they had run out withouttheir velis, the Kind took that area of function away from them - excellent move, and gutsy! Part of his power is based on a deal with Wahabbism, but he's shown there are limits beyond which they may not trespass.

So long story short - I must reverse myself again (did some time ago, just never amde it back here). The way the community and the country, or the more reasonable in it, have come together over this, Jews, Christians and all, this project shuold be built! Maybe it can even help people finally get it that Muslims had NOTHING to do with 9-11 - they were just scapegoats.

Saturday September 11, 2010, 12:40 pm
Noted, thanks J.C.
I'm tired to my bones of hearing, reading all this relligious intolerance blabla.
People don't become criminals just becaue they think differently, neither should we be concerner about it.
Criminals, yes, those concern me, and they come in every size, shape and colour.

Some people think it might be a respectful gesture for the muslim communities to stay away from that site. But that's just another way for guetto'ing people: "you're not suppoed to be here".
Where's the USA Constitution there?
Where's our good sense? It's really about time to stop confusion.

If EVAH I needed another reason to turn my back on politics -- the hatred, mud-raking, insensitive/nonsensical ramblings I keep reading from power-hungry politicians, backed by their unwitting supporters, would be MORE THAN ENOUGH.